The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Renewable Energy Promotion Association (REPA) in New Delhi for mutual collaboration between the two organizations to expand the reach of renewables.

A release from ASSOCHAM has informed that the MoU will foster cooperation between ASSOCHAM’s technical committee and REPA’s standing committee. The agreement also talks of forming a task force to develop and harmonize Indian and international renewable energy markets towards standardization. The two organizations would undertake joint training, educational seminars and other educational activities.

REPA is India’s first public-private not-for-profit body and umbrella association for renewable energy established under Companies Act 1956.

“Renewable Energy Promotion Association, which is India’s sole umbrella association and not for profit body for the promotion of renewable energy and sustainable development, has a two-pronged strategy to promote the growth of renewable energy and technologies while thriving for simultaneous achievement of energy efficiency and sustainability”, said A. G. Iyer, President REPA.

REPA has proposed a separate Fund for India’s Renewable Energy (FIRE) to achieve the goal of India’s renewable energy and to operate as a hybridized renewable energy debt equity fund (REDEF).

“As a representative organ of corporate India, ASSOCHAM articulates the genuine, legitimate needs and interests of its members. Its mission is to impact the policy and legislative environment to foster balanced economic, industrial and social development,” said ASSOCHAM Deputy Secretary-General, Saurabh Sanyal.

This agreement aims to promote, encourage, manage, assist and organize an integrated and efficient development of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, tidal and wave energy resources in India and abroad. It includes planning, investigation, research, design, and preparation of preliminary, feasibility and definite project reports for the construction, generation, operation, and maintenance of sustainable projects. It added that the renovation and modernization of power stations and projects, transmission, distribution, sale of power generation at stations in India and abroad, would also be covered in the collaborative effort.

The Indian renewable energy sector already has several associations that are active including – National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA), Solar Energy Society of India (SESI), Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) among others. With Indian renewable sector growing, other trade associations are seeing an opportunity to expand. It remains to be seen what specific roles each association will carve out for themselves in this growing sector.

On the international front, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an Indian initiative that was jointly launched by Narendra Modi and the French president on November 30, 2015, in Paris, on the sidelines of COP21, the UN Climate Conference.

The ISA is the first full-fledged treaty-based international intergovernmental organization headquartered in India. Recently, Bolivia signed the framework agreement of ISA, joining scores of other countries in their journey towards a sustainable future.

Soumik is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, Soumik was a correspondent for UNI, New Delhi covering the Northeast region for seven years. He has also worked as an Asia Correspondent for Washington DC-based Hundred Reporters. He has contributed as a freelancer to several national and international digital publications with a focus on data-based investigative stories on environmental corruption, hydro power projects, energy transition and the circular economy. Soumik is an Economics graduate from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University.